We must be ready - Smith

– Australia were undone by spin in the first one-day international, but skipper Steve Smith has warned his side need to be ready for India’s other bowling weapons.

The tourists were frustrated by wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who took five wickets between them, to go down by 26 runs as they chased a rain-shortened target of 164 in 21 overs.

Australia had brought in local bowler KK Jiyas ahead of Sunday’s game to practice facing a left-arm wrist-spinner.

“We certainly haven’t just been focusing on wrist spin. We’ve been facing our fast bowlers in the nets and other net bowlers as well,” Smith said.

“There hasn’t just been that focus on spin bowling, that’s for sure. India have some quality seamers as well,” he added.

It was fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (above) who rattled the Australian top order before the spinners moved in.

Leg-spinner Chahal and Yadav also slipped in a few knuckle balls – bowled with fingertips and released in a way to reduce any kind of rotation on the ball – for shock value.

Smith insisted there were no surprises in the game, as Australia had prepared for all challenges.

“The guys knew what they were in for before this game. Everyone had seen the footage and watched a bit of the series in Sri Lanka where they bowled quite a few (knuckle balls),” said Smith.

“It wasn’t any surprise to us. Batting for 20 overs is difficult when you’re losing wickets and trying to go quite hard.

“It didn’t work out as we would have liked but we’ve got to turn things around in a couple of days’ time in Kolkata,” he added. –

Chennai